Automotive safety side wind indicator

ABSTRACT

A portable lightweight safety device formed from three parts that may be easily assembled and mounted on the hood portion of an automotive vehicle without the use of tools. The device when so mounted may be used in conjunction with the speedometer of the vehicle to determine the magnitude of the component of a side wind that is blowing in a direction normal to the longitudinal sides of the vehicle, a camper body mounted on the vehicle, or a trailer drawn by the vehicle. Such information is of vital importance to the safety of a vehicle driver in certain desert areas where side winds reach a magnitude sufficient to overturn a vehicle supporting a camper and trailers drawn by a vehicle.

United States Patent Binckley [151 3,686,938 Aug. 29, 1972 [54]AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SIDE WIND INDICATOR [72] Inventor: Earle T. Binckley,25055 Riverdell,

El Toro, Calif. 92630 [22] Filed: June 28, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 157,354

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant Examiner-(3. E. Snee, IIIAttorney-William C. Babcock [57] ABSTRACT A portable lightweight safetydevice formed from three parts that may be easily assembled and mountedon the hood portion of an automotive vehicle without the use of tools.The device when so mounted may be used in conjunction with thespeedometer of the vehicle to determine the magnitude of the componentof a side wind that is blowing in a direction normal to the longitudinalsides of the vehicle, a camper body mounted on the vehicle, or a trailerdrawn by the vehicle. Such information is of vital importance to thesafety of a vehicle driver in certain desert areas where side windsreach a magnitude sufficient to overturn a vehicle supporting a camperand trailers drawn by a vehicle.

5CIaims,5Drawin gI-'igunes I Patented Aug. 29,1972

- INVENTOR. 34245 2' Bum/(1.6)

BY We. W

flrraQ/vn 1 AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SIDE WIND INDICATOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1 Field of the Invention An automotive safety side windindicator.

2. Description of the Prior Art In recent years the use of camperssupported on a vehicle and trailers drawn by a vehicle as mobile homeshas increased tremendously. Trailers and vehicle supported campers arefrequently moved through desert areas in which side winds of highvelocity are not uncommon. Due to the large longitudinal side areas ofcampers and trailers exposed 'to such side winds, the moving of campersand trailers is exceedingly hazardous when the side winds have aneffective velocity normal to the longitudinal areas that exceeds apredetermined value. The velocity of a side wind below which it is safeto drive a vehicle supporting a camper or on pulling a trailer issomewhat variable and depends to a large extent on the center of gravityof the camper or trailer. In general it is not safe to drive a vehiclesupporting a camper or one pulling a trailer when the velocity of theside wind is greater than twenty miles per hour.

The primary purpose in devising the present invention is to supply adevice that may be removably mounted on the hood of a vehicle, and thereading on the device when used with the reading on the speedometer ofthe vehicle indicating the magnitude of the side wind to which thevehicle issubjected.

A further purpose for devising the present invention is to providevisual signal means that indicate when it is hazardous to drive avehicle supporting a camper or a vehicle drawing a trailer in a sidewind of substantial velocity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A three piece lightweight portable device thatincludes a tubular upright, a vacuum cup for removably supporting theupright from the hood of a vehicle, and a vane and indicator assemblypivotally supported from the upright. The upright on the rearwardsurface thereof bears an arrow or other insignia that lies on an axis 45offset to the direction in which the vehicle is moving. The vaneassembly has two circumferentially spaced indicators thereon that arespaced 90 degrees apart, and when no side wind is blowing, theindicators will be on opposite sides of the arrow and spaced 45therefrom.

When a side wind is blowing and it is desired to determine the velocityof the component of the side wind that is exerting a normally directedforce on one longitudinal side of the vehicle, the driver of the vehiclevaries the speed thereof, until the vane is disposed at a substantially45 angle relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. This isdone by adjusting the vehicle speed until one of the indicators isaligned with the fixed arrow. The velocity of the side wind componentnormal to a side of the vehicle when such a situation prevails is thatof the speed of the vehicle. When the vane is disposed at an angle of 45relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle, the force of theairstream on one side of the vane assembly that results from the forwardmotion of the vehicle is equal to the side wind component on theopposite side of the vane, and as a result the speedometer reading isthe velocity of said side wind component.

A major object of the present invention is to provide a lightweightcompact device that may be mounted on a portion of a vehicle forwardlyof the driver therein, and the device including a vane and indicatorassembly that is pivotally supported, and visually indicates when thevane assembly is at an angle of substantially 45 relative to thedirection of travel of the vehicle. The speed of the vehicle when thissituation occurs is the velocity of the component of the side wind thatresults in the vane assembly being so disposed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that may bemounted on a vehicle to permit the driver thereof to readily ascertainwhether a side wind to which thevehicle is subjected is of sufficientmagnitude as to render further driving hazardous.

A still further object of the invention is to supply a safety devicethat is readily available at all times to indicate whether furtherdriving in a side wind is hazardous, as well as to at all times indicateto a driver the direction in which a side wind is blowing relative tothe direction of travel of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety device that isof an extremely simple mechanical structure, is inexpensive to produce,can be fabricated in the main from plastic materials, and can beretailed at a sufliciently low price as to encourage the widespread usethereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a safety device thatis sufficiently inexpensive, that it may be used as a premium or foradvertising purposes.

A further object of the invention is to furnish a safety device that maybe sold or stored in a dismantled condition, and easily assembled andinstalled on a vehicle without the use of hand tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of anautomotive vehicle with the safety side wind indicating device mountedthereon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device, with the vane being shown inphantom line in two positions that it may occupy when subjected to aside wind;

FIG. 4 is a combined side elevational and vertical cross sectional viewof the device taken on the line 4-- 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the uprightthat bears an insignia, and the lower portion of the vane assembly whichhas indicator means thereon, to inform the driver of the vehicle notonly the direction in which a side wind is blowing, but the velocity ofsaid side wind.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The safety side wind indicatingdevice A is shown in FIG. 1 as being removably secured to the hood B ofan automotive vehicle C having longitudinally extending sides D. Thesides D when the automotive vehicle C is being driven may be subjectedto side winds of substantial magnitude as well as a camper (not shown)supported by the vehicle and also a trailer (not shown) drawn by thevehicle. Such side winds may be of sufiicient magnitude as to renderhazardous the driving of the vehicle C, and the device A serves to alertthe driver of a vehicle when such a situation prevails.

The device A as best seen in FIG. 4 includes a rigid tubular uprightmember E that has a first lower end portion and upper end portion 12.First supporting means F are provided that are secured to the lower endportion 10, and are preferably removably securable to a portion of thevehicle B forwardly of the driver (not shown) therein. In the drawingthe first means F is illustrated as a vacuum cup 14 that is ofconventional design, and when downwardly depressed onto the hood 18 ofthe vehicle B deform to establish a vacuum in the confined space 16situated between the lower surface of the cup and the upper surface ofthe hood 18.

The vacuum cup 14 includes an upwardly extending tubular boss 20 that isfrictionally engaged by the first end portion 10 of the tubular memberE. The tubular member E has an insignia G located on the lower rearwardportion thereof, and the insignia being centered on a longitudinal axis(not shown) that is 45 offset to the direction of travel of the vehicleB. I

A vane assembly H is provided that includes a vane 22 that is in theform of a relatively thin sheet and preferably semi-elliptical in shape,although other shapes may be used if desired. The vane 22 has avertically extending forward edge 24. The vane 22 at the upper portionthereof adjacent the edge 24 develops into a forwardly extending tab 24from which a pin 26 of circular transverse I cross section projectsdownwardly to pivotally engage the vertically extending bore 28 definedin the tubular member. Vane 22 on the lower forward portion thereofdevelops into a forwardly extending ring 30 that loosely and pivotallyengages the exterior surface 32 of the tubular member, when the pin 26is disposed in the bore 28 as shown in FIG. 4. The ring 30 has visualindicating means H associated therewith, which means are illustrated inFIG. 5 as two downwardly extending triangular shaped members 34 thathave the apexes 36 thereof separated by 90, and the indicating meansbeing so positioned that the triangular shaped members are disposed at45 angulation relative to the center of the insignia G. The insignia Gmay be of various configurations, but is shown in FIG. 5 as a triangle38 that has an apex 40 that is longitudinally aligned on an axis (notshown) that is 45 offset to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Pin26 is longitudinally aligned with the center of ring 30. The device A asshown in FIG. 4 in position on the vehicle is illustrated in FIG. 1.

When the vehicle C is driven forwardly, and no side wind is exertedthereon, airstreams of equal velocity will flow past the sides of thevane 22, and the vane will remain in a position where it islongitudinally aligned on an axis (not shown) that is parallel with thedirection of travel of the vehicle. However, in the event that a sidewind is blowing relative to the vehicle C as the latter moves forwardly,the side wind will exert a laterally directed force on the vane 22causing the vane to pivot towards one of the positions 22' shown inphantom line in FIG. 3. The force of the side wind on the vane 22 willcause it to assume an angular position relative to the direction oftravel of the vehicle, and indicate to the driver of the vehicle thedirection in which the side wind is blowing.

When the driver of the vehicle desires to determine the velocity of thecomponent of the side wind that exerts a normally directed force on aside D of the vehicle C, the driver increases or decreases the speed ofthe vehicle until the apex 36 of one of the members 34 is verticallyaligned with the apex 40 of the insignia G. When this situationprevails, the speedometer reading indicates the velocity of thecomponent of the side wind that is exerting a normally directed force ona longitudinal side D of the vehicle C.

The reason that the speedometer reading is the same as the velocity ofthe component of the side wind is that when the vane 22 is disposed atan angle of 45 relative to the direction of travel, the force of theair-stream on one side of the vane due to forward movement of thevehicle, is equal to the force exerted by the side wind on the oppositeside thereof. In FIG. 3 the vane 22 is shown in two positions indicatedin phantom line and identified by the numeral 22'. Each of thesepositions can be occupied by the vane 22 only when the above describedsituation prevails, and a reading taken on the speedometer at the timeto determine the velocity of travel of the vehicle also is the velocityof the component of the side wind that is exerting a normally directedforce on one side D of the vehicle.

The insignia G and indicators 34 are shown on the rearward portions ofmember E and ring 30, but they may be positioned on the sides of themember and ring if desired for easier and more convenient and accuratereading. If the latter positioning is used, the vane 22 will beangularly positioned relative to indicators 34 rather than beingcentered therebetween;

I claim:

1. A safety device capable of being mounted on a portion of anautomotive vehicle forwardly of the driver thereof for detemiining themagnitude of the component of a side wind that exerts a normallydirected force on a side of said vehicle, said device comprising:

a. a rigid tubular member having first and second end portions;

b. first means that are secured to said first end portion and arecapable of being secured to said portion of said automotive vehicle tosupport said tubular member in a substantially vertical position;

c. an insignia defined on the rearward portion of said tubular memberthat is visible to said driver;

d. a vane assembly pivotally supported at a fixed elevation on saidtubular member, with the vane portion of said assembly being parallel tothe direction in which said vehicle is moving due to airstreams of equalvelocity flowing by opposite sides of said vane when said vehicle issubjected to no side wind; and

. visual indicating means on said assembly that cooperate with saidinsignia to inform said driver when said vane is disposed at an angle ofsubstantially 45 to the direction of travel, with the driver of thevehicle being able to use said device to obtain the velocity of thecomponent of a side wind directed normal to the side of said vehicle byvarying the speed of said vehicle until said vane is disposed at anangle of 45 to the direction of travel of said vehicle, and said speedbeing the velocity of said component of said side wind that exerts anormally directed force on one longitudinal side of said vehicle.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said first means is a vacuumcup formed from a resilient material, which cup includes an outwardlyextending tubular boss that is frictionally engaged by said first endportion.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said vane assembly includes atab and ring that project from said vane, and a pin that extends fromsaid tab towards said ring and is longitudinally aligned with the centerof said ring, and said assembly pivotally supported from said tubularmember when said ring is in rotatable engagement with the exteriorsurface thereof, and said pin extends downwardly into the upper interiorof said tubular member.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said indicating means are twopointed members that project outwardly from said ring and have thecenters thereof separated by ninety degrees, with said pointed membersbeing disposed forty-five degrees from the center of said insignia andon opposite sides thereof when said vehigle is being driven forwardlyand there is no side wm 5. A device as defined in claim 4 in which saidinsignia is of triangular shape.

1. A safety device capable of being mounted on a portion of anautomotive vehicle forwardly of the driver thereof for determining themagnitude of the component of a side wind that exerts a normallydirected force on a side of said vehicle, said device comprising: a. arigid tubular member having first and second end portions; b. firstmeans that are secured to said first end portion and are capable ofbeing secured to said portion of said automotive vehicle to support saidtubular member in a substantially vertical position; c. an insigniadefined on the rearward portion of said tubular member that is visibleto said driver; d. a vane assembly pivotally supported at a fixedelevation on said tubular member, with the vane portion of said assemblybeing parallel to the direction in which said vehicle is moving due toairstreams of equal velocity flowing by opposite sides of said vane whensaid vehicle is subjected to no side wind; and e. visual indicatingmeans on said assembly that cooperate with said insignia to inform saiddriver when said vane is disposed at an angle of substantially 45* tothe direction of travel, with the driver of the vehicle being able touse said device to obtain the velocity of the component of a side winddirected normal to the side of said vehicle by varying the speed of saidvehicle until said vane is disposed at an angle of 45* to the directionof travel of said vehicle, and said speed being the velocity of saidcomponent of said side wind that exerts a normally directed force on onelongitudinal side of said vehicle.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1 inwhich said first means is a vacuum cup formed from a resilient material,which cup includes an outwardly extending tubular boss that isfrictionally engaged by said first end portion.
 3. A device as definedin claim 1 in which said vane assembly includes a tab and ring thatproject from said vane, and a pin that extends from said tab towardssaid ring and is longitudinally aligned with the center of said ring,and said assembly pivotally supported from said tubular member when saidring is in rotatable engagement with the exterior surface thereof, andsaid pin extends downwardly into the upper interior of said tubularmember.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said indicating meansare two pointed members that project outwardly from said ring and havethe centers thereof separated by ninety degrees, with said pointedmembers being disposed forty-five degrees from the center of saidinsignia and on opposite sides thereof when said vehicle is being drivenforwardly and there is no side wind.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4in which said insignia is of triangular shape.